Aleksandr Prokopenko

Aleksandr Prokopenko

Personal information
Full name	Aleksandr Timofeyevich Prokopenko
Date of birth	November 16, 1953
Place of birth	Bobruisk, Belarusian SSR
Date of death	March 29, 1989 (aged 35)
Place of death	Minsk, Belarusian SSR
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1971-1972	Stroitel Bobruisk
1973-1983	Dinamo Minsk
1986	Dnepr Mogilev
1987	Neftchi Baku
National team
1980	Soviet Union	1	(0)
1980	Soviet Union Olympic	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Olympic medal record
Representing the  Soviet Union
Men's football
	1980 Moscow	Team

Aleksandr Timofeyevich Prokopenko (Russian: Александр Тимофеевич Прокопенко, November 16, 1953 – March 29, 1989) was a Soviet football player. After retiring he suffered from alcoholism, he died from choking on food in a restaurant age 35.

Part of Eduard Malofeev's Dinamo Minsk side which preached 'sincere football', Prokopenko was the flawed genius that made them tick. He carried a speech impediment, because of which he refused to ever undertake an interview. Despite that he was a firm fans' favourite because his thirst for alcohol meant he drank alongside the supporters. He was technically astute and had the vision to unlock defences and, despite the level at which he drank, was always willing to run his heart out for an entire match.

Honours

• Olympic bronze: 1980.
• Soviet Top League winner: 1982.

International career

Prokopenko played his only game for USSR on July 12, 1980 in a friendly against Denmark.

References

• (Russian) Profile
• Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics. Wilson, Jonathan.